12 year old killed after teens sneak into locked area to play with heavy machinery

2011-07-11T08:36:37Z2011-07-12T11:57:07Z

Corion Baptiste (Source: Facebook)

NORTH CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) -

A 12-year-old boy was killed Sunday night after a group of teenagers snuck into a locked facility and played witb heavy machinery. Authorities have identified the boy who was killed after he fell off a piece of machinery and was run over by another boy.

The coroner's office says 12-year-old Corion Baptiste died on scene from injuries he sustained in the accident. Police say that Baptiste was left dead for hours after being run over on Sunday in North Charleston.

Police say four young boys, ranging in age from 8 to 13 years old, broke into the ConGlobal Industries facility off Spruill Avenue sometime after 5 p.m. Sunday. Authorities say the kids started playing with heavy duty loading equipment when the accident happened.

North Charleston police spokesman Spencer Pryor says Baptiste was operating one of the top loaders when the machine tilted and he fell to the ground. Police say that another boy driving a second top loader had the machine in reverse and ran over the victim.

"Everyone's talking about it. It's a tragedy for the community. Everybody around here is feeling it because he was such a young kid, bright kid at that," Esau Richardson said.

Richardson runs the Union Heights Pantry in a neighborhood nearby and says Baptiste was one of his regular customers.

Authorities say the boys left the scene and went home.

"They left the area, went back home, did not tell anyone for fear they would get in trouble," Pryor said.

A parent started asking the boys about the missing 12 year old. They say the parent contacted police and after questioning the children. Police responded to the scene of the accident around 11:30 p.m. Sunday.

"They used to run around, but they ain't used to be involved in stuff like that. They used to be in the park or just doing what little kids do," Union Heights resident Cy-Aira Weldon said.

Police say the ConGlobal facility was locked and no workers were there at the time. They say the children got in by climbing underneath a fence. At this time police say there are no charges against the company.

Police are working with the Ninth Circuit Solicitor's Office about filing charges against the children involved, but none have been filed so far.